Justify
Word of the Week
Justify ( Justificar )
jus·ti·fy
verb \ˈjəs-tə-ˌfī\
- to provide or be a good reason for (something) : to prove or show (something) to be just, right, or reasonable
- to provide a good reason for the actions of (someone)
- to position (text) so that the edges form a straight line
Full Definition of Justify
transitive verb
1 a : to prove or show to be just, right, or reasonable
b (1) : to show to have had a sufficient legal reason (2) : to qualify (oneself) as asurety by taking oath to the ownership of sufficient property
2 a archaic : to administer justice to
b archaic : absolve
c : to judge, regard, or treat as righteous and worthy of salvation
3 a : to space (as lines of text) so that the lines come out even at the margin
b : to make even by justifying <justified margins>
intransitive verb
1 a : to show a sufficient lawful reason for an act done
b : to qualify as bail or surety
2 a: to justify lines of text
— jus·ti·fi·er noun
Examples of Justify
- He tried to justify his behavior by saying that he was being pressured unfairly by his boss.
- The fact that we are at war does not justify treating innocent people as criminals.
Related to Justify
Related Words: account (for), alibi, explain away, rationalize; brush (aside or off), condone, disregard, forgive, gloss (over), gloze (over), ignore, pardon, pass over, remit, shrug off, wink (at)
Near Antonyms : abandon, abjure, forsake, recant, retract,take back, withdraw,; reverse, switch; controvert, disprove, rebut, refute